The Punjab & Haryana High Court today sought a response from the Punjab Government on suo moto cognizance taken on a news item alleging that heroin is being sold openly in a village in Bathinda district.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry sought a response from the State Government and listed the matter to December 22.

As per the news reports, villagers have painted a wall-graffiti in Maur Kalan village condemning the alleged open drug sale. The message on the wall reads “aethe chitta/sharee-aam vikda hai (heroin openly sold here)”.

After learning about it, a police team rushed to the village and painted over the wall writings, the report stated.

This comes days after a youth died of a suspected drug overdose in the village.

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION V/S STATE OF PUNJAB THROUGH ITS CHIEF SECRETARY